The words set down to Othello here, "that! what?" have been put in to disturb the measure, by some actor; they are of no use, and were better dismissed; for Emilia's alarm would not wait for them; and Othello preserves a sullen silence till his terrible fury is rouzed by the gentle absolution of the dying Desdemona. 502. "And you, the blacker devil." Some words seem to have been lost: perhaps, Alas! sweet lady!" "She was false as water." This, with what follows, requires regulation: "She was false as water." Emil. " Thou art rash as fire, "To say she was false.-O, she was heavenly true." "To this extremity; thy husband knew it all." "All" is superfluous, and loads the verse:the succeeding lines might thus be regulated: Oth. My husband!" Ay, thy husband, woman; he." Emil. "That she was false to wedlock! said'st Oth. thou?" "With Cassio, mistress; nay, had she been true," &c. 503. "I'd not have sold her for it." The measure, here, might thus be reclaimed: "I'd not have sold her for't." My husband!" Emil. " 66 Ay, Thy husband; he it was that told me first." "That sticks on filthy deeds." Something is wanting here to order: "That sticks on filthy deeds." Emil. " Emil. " My husband!" How now! "What needs this iteration, woman? I say "Thy' húsband.” O, sweet mistress! villany "That she was false ! my husband" Oth. 504. "Ha!" Emil," Do thy worst," &c. Gra. "What is the matter?" Something is wanting; perhaps like this: "What is the matter? Murder, say you? where ?" 505. "Speak, for my heart is full." Another fragment, to which, perhaps, belonged some words like these: Confute the slander." Iag. "But did you ever tell him she was false?" "I did." "Ever" might well be omitted, and Iago's answer finish the verse. 506. "My mistress, here," &c. The lines between this and Iago's speech: "What are you, man?" which are not in the first quarto, appear to be a worthless interpola tion. 507. "And fall to reprobation." This hemistic was probably preceded by some words like these: 509. “In spleen; and fall to reprobatíón.” As liberal as the air.” "Liberal," unrestrained; as in K. Henry V. "The air a charter'd libertine is still." And in As You Like It: A charter like the wind, "To blow on all alike." 510. Your sword upon a woman!" We might add, to complete the line, Hold! for shame!" "Are there no stones in heaven "But what serve for the thunder." Nobody, I suppose, will be satisfied with Mr. Steevens's explanation of this passage—the thunder, according to the poetic, as well as vulgar notion, does more than "make the noise," it effects the devastation. "Are there no stones in heaven?" appears to mean, are there no implements of heavenly vengeance besides the thunder?-cannot heaven inflict its wrath by some other means than thunder?—yes, it will plunge my sword into the villain's breast. The metre wants correction: "Do with so good a wife." Oth. " Are there no stones "In heav'n, but what serve for the thunder, villain ?" The impetuosity of the speaker would not admit of the epithet that stands before "villain,' and oppresses the measure. 511. "He's gone," &c. I would offer: "He's gone; but sure, I think, his wife is kill'd." "Tis a notorious villain. Take you this weapon." The first quarto, without any hypermeter, reads, ""Tis a notorious villain; take your weapon." We might fairly read, "take this weapon." "Notorious," for "enormous"-Iago was not yet notorious. 512. "For 'tis a damned slave." "For" should be omitted: ""Tis a damn'd slave. Oth." I am not valiant neither." 514. "Behold, I have a weapon," &c. I would regulate: "What is the matter?" Oth. " Lo! I have a weapon," This little arm." This inconsiderable member, or limb. "Here is my journey's end; here is my butt, "The very sea-mark of my utmost sail." Something of this sentiment and expression we find in Milton: Worst is my port, "My harbour, and my ultimate repose, Paradise Regained, Book III. 515. "Even like thy chastity." The first quarto completes this line thus: We might, perhaps, order the measure in this manner: "Even like thy chastity-O cursed villain, "Pernicious damned slave! Whip me, ye devils," &c. 516. "Dear general," &c. "Dear" might well be spared: Oth. "Ay Ay Cas. " General, I never gave you cause." 517. "What not to pray!" This is a ludicrous interpolation; and will not agree with the measure. "O villain!" A foot and a half is wanting here: perhaps, "O most precious villain !" |